Oleic Acid Decarboxylation and Further Transformation over Pt/SAPO-11 and Pt/Al2O3

Catalytic decarboxylation and further conversion of oleic acid to branched and aromatic hydrocarbons (gasoline/diesel-range hydrocarbons) in a single process step, over Pt–SAPO-11 and Pt/ Al2O3 is presented.  The degree of decarboxylation and selectivity to the primary intermediate, the linear heptadecane are affected by reaction temperature, time and environment (H2orCO2). Higher temperatures, longer reaction times, and the presence of hydrogen increased the degree of decarboxylation (as highas 98%) and selectivity to heptadecane (up to ∼63%). In the presence of acidic supports, like SAPO-11 or chlorided alumina, the initially formed paraffin intermediate undergoes further conversion to branched, cyclic and alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons. For example,dodecylbenzene, of high interest in the petrochemical industry as a raw material for detergents, could be obtained in high yields.Under appropriate reaction conditions, significant quantities of hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline range could also beformed by hydrocracking reactions over these bifunctional catalysts.